Girls Own the Night at RB Idol

Girls stole the show at Thursday’s RB Idol singing competition at the , claiming all three top prizes and earning the chance to sing before thousands at next week’s in Rancho Bernardo.

junior Jackie Foster, 16, won over the crowd and a panel of judges—which included last year’s winner, Matt Billman—with her rendition of The Beatles’ Oh! Darling.

“This is such a shock. ... So thankful,” Foster said, adding she was impressed with the level of talent in this year’s competition.

Nineteen different acts competed for the top three prizes: $500 for first place, $200 for second and $100 for third place. The winners were chosen by votes from the approximately 200 attendees and a panel of judges. The top finishers can perform just before the annual 9 p.m. fireworks show July 4 at as part of the Spirit of the Fourth celebration. 

In second place was 15-year-old junior Lizzi Trumbore, who sang Stolen Moments by Oliver Nelson. Fifteen-year-old Jessica Jolley, who lives in RB and attends Classical Academy High School in Escondido, came in third after singing Pulled from The Addams Family Musical. (See a video of the winning performances attached to this story.)

Billman, last year’s winner who now attends Stanford University, and Kristi Krause, a two-time American Idol contestant and finalist in last year’s RB Idol, each performed solos and a duet (see video). RB native saxophonist Chris Burgess, who is attending the Berklee College of Music, also performed.

The contestants:

• Caleigha Zangari
• Amy Geis
• Ruben Santibanez Jr.
• Zackary Manlapid
• Relentless Duo
• Alex Fausto
• Roxanne Reed
• Isabella Pihas
• Audrey Nonaka
• Kyle Kesler
• Brooke Kesler
• Claire Fenley
• Luke Castor
• Lauren Springett
• Paywand Baghal
• Alli Nicole Hartman